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English Quiz - Compound Words (Questions)

Compound words join two words to make a new idea. Learn how closed, hyphenated, and open forms change meaning in everyday English.

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Fascinating Fact:

Compound meanings can surprise. A greenhouse grows plants, but a green house is simply a house painted green. One little space changes everything.

In 11 Plus English, you will meet compound words that combine two terms to create a new meaning. They can be written as one word, with a hyphen, or as two words that work together.

Key Terms

Compound word: Two words joined to make a new meaning, like toothpaste or ice cream.
Closed compound: Written as one word, for example notebook and sunflower.
Open or hyphenated compound: Written as two words or with a hyphen, such as ice cream or part-time.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is a compound word with examples?

A compound word combines two words to form a new idea. Examples include football, toothpaste, ice cream, and mother-in-law.

When should I use a hyphen in compound words?

Use a hyphen when it helps clarity or before a noun as a single idea, like a well-known author or a part-time job. Numbers like twenty-one use hyphens too.

What is the difference between greenhouse and green house?

Greenhouse is a building for growing plants. Green house means a house that is green in colour. The single space changes the meaning.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
bathrobe, bathtub, bathsoap, bathmat

[ ]	bathsoap
[ ]	bathtub
[ ]	bathrobe
[ ]	bathmat

2.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
high school, secondary school, little school, primary school

[ ]	secondary school
[ ]	high school
[ ]	primary school
[ ]	little school

3.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
bookshelf, bookworm, book club, book reader

[ ]	book reader
[ ]	book club
[ ]	bookshelf
[ ]	bookworm

4.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
daydream, day centre, day time, daylight

[ ]	daylight
[ ]	day time
[ ]	day centre
[ ]	daydream

5.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
fish hook, fish farm, fish cake, fish finger

[ ]	fish finger
[ ]	fish cake
[ ]	fish hook
[ ]	fish farm

6.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
grand-uncle, grand-aunt, grand-mother, grandfather

[ ]	grandfather
[ ]	grand-uncle
[ ]	grand-mother
[ ]	grand-aunt

7.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
greenlight, green belt, green fingers, greenhouse

[ ]	greenlight
[ ]	greenhouse
[ ]	green belt
[ ]	green fingers

8.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
heartbreak, heartbeat, heartattack, heart rate

[ ]	heart rate
[ ]	heartbreak
[ ]	heartattack
[ ]	heartbeat

9.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
rainbow, raindrop, rail way, popcorn

[ ]	raindrop
[ ]	rail way
[ ]	popcorn
[ ]	rainbow

10.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
post office, post man, postbox, postcard

[ ]	post office
[ ]	postbox
[ ]	postcard
[ ]	post man

English Quiz - Compound Words (Answers)

1.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
bathrobe, bathtub, bathsoap, bathmat

[x]	bathsoap
[ ]	bathtub
[ ]	bathrobe
[ ]	bathmat

It looks like the soap has been left out of the bathroom!

2.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
high school, secondary school, little school, primary school

[ ]	secondary school
[ ]	high school
[ ]	primary school
[x]	little school

'little school' could be used to describe ANY of the other schools mentioned in the list. 'primary', 'secondary' and 'high' are specific and can't be used to describe each other. This might be a good way of deciding if a 'word' is an open form compound word or just two words written next to each other

3.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
bookshelf, bookworm, book club, book reader

[x]	book reader
[ ]	book club
[ ]	bookshelf
[ ]	bookworm

'reader' is not specific enough to make 'book reader' a compound word

4.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
daydream, day centre, day time, daylight

[ ]	daylight
[x]	day time
[ ]	day centre
[ ]	daydream

'day time' should be written as 'daytime'. This is one of the tricky things with compound words: is it two words or one word? D'oh!

5.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
fish hook, fish farm, fish cake, fish finger

[ ]	fish finger
[ ]	fish cake
[x]	fish hook
[ ]	fish farm

'fish hook' should be written as 'fishhook'

6.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
grand-uncle, grand-aunt, grand-mother, grandfather

[ ]	grandfather
[ ]	grand-uncle
[x]	grand-mother
[ ]	grand-aunt

'grand-mother' should be written as 'grandmother': no hyphen! It appears that this also applies to the following: grandma/pa/son/daughter/nephew/niece. It seems that only grand-aunt and grand-uncle take a hyphen

7.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
greenlight, green belt, green fingers, greenhouse

[x]	greenlight
[ ]	greenhouse
[ ]	green belt
[ ]	green fingers

'greenlight' should be written as 'green light'

8.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
heartbreak, heartbeat, heartattack, heart rate

[ ]	heart rate
[ ]	heartbreak
[x]	heartattack
[ ]	heartbeat

'heartattack' should be written as 'heart attack'

9.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
rainbow, raindrop, rail way, popcorn

[ ]	raindrop
[x]	rail way
[ ]	popcorn
[ ]	rainbow

'rail way' should be written as 'railway'

10.

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
post office, post man, postbox, postcard

[ ]	post office
[ ]	postbox
[ ]	postcard
[x]	post man

'post man' should be written as 'postman'